Judith Isaac Seroska

Judith Isaac Seroska, of Mountain Top, passed away unexpectedly and far too soon on March 10, 2025.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on October 13, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Walter E. Isaac and Marian Hill Isaac.

Judy was a graduate of the Meyers High School Class of 1966 and later, Geisinger Nursing School in Danville, PA.

Throughout the course of her life, Judy worked in many different roles.  She was fortunate enough to be able to be a full time but definitely NOT staying at home mom in her daughters’ early years. Incredibly community minded and a passionate champion for the causes she found dearest, Judy was a full-time volunteer, board member, advocate and so much more. Her girls have vivid memories of being carted all over the Wyoming Valley, “helping” her bundle daffodils for the Cancer Society, playing under the desks of Planned Parenthood while their mom taught childbirth classes to young pregnant women, and playing store at the Junior League Thrift Shop.  Then, as a single mom re-entering the (paying) workforce, she was first a coach at NutriSystem.  Though she herself would admit she was not a Hall of Fame level coach as she and her girls would often run into her clients at local fairs, street festivals, and church bazaars stuffing their faces and tripping over themselves to avoid eye contact with Judy.  Then returning to nursing, she was a devoted private duty nurse taking care of patients in their homes as well as an in-unit hospice nurse with Hospice Community Care.  Her unsurpassed empathy, nurturing kindness, and warm, “feel like I’ve known you forever” presence made her the most amazing hospice nurse to her dying patients and comfort to their families. She later took a role as the Alzheimer’s Association’s Program Director providing community outreach, training the staffs of healthcare facilities (and even prisons! Picture Judy in a prison! She actually loved those trainings.), and most meaningfully, providing seminars and support to the families of loved ones newly diagnosed with dementia.  It was truly the perfect position for her, having taken care of her own mother with Alzheimer’s and being able to share so many heartfelt and personal experiences.

In addition to this work and being there for her girls’ every game or school event, she somehow found time to be an active board member and volunteer for so many causes including Planned Parenthood, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Council, The Junior League, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Medical Auxiliary, Luzerne County Commission for Women, Philharmonic Women’s League, Leadership Wilkes-Barre and Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre, American Heart Association, the Fairview Elementary and Crestwood High School PTA, and many other volunteer organizations her daughters are definitely forgetting.

And throughout it all, Judy was just FUN.  She could regularly be seen about town, always decked out and matching from head to toe.  She did not own yoga pants or sneakers and her daughters cannot remember ever seeing her in jeans.  Her car always carried at least one spare outfit and “backup” accessories because you just never know.  Judy was ALWAYS ready for anything and up for any adventure. And her definition of “adventure” was broad. As she would regularly tell people, “I could have fun in a convenience store”.  And she did. Regularly.  An only child, she was remarkably independent and never hesitant to go anywhere or do anything by herself. Concerts, road trips, anything. Wherever she went she would make instant friends. She’d park her car in her daughter’s Philadelphia neighborhood and win over at least three neighbors Emily didn’t even know on her way back to Emily’s house.

She loved cheering on the Phillies, dancing - whether in front of the local bands for which she was a “groupie” or in the aisles of Target, visiting her happy place in Connecticut, watching true crime (often calling her daughters and telling them they “MUST turn on this [insert serial killer here] series RIGHT NOW!”), shopping and hunting for treasures and surprises for those she loved (Judy was a pro thrifter before thrifting was cool).  Judy was known for being the BEST at sending cards, offering the perfect sentiment to so many friends, loved ones, and even people she had only met once but felt touched by. She may be the one who has kept the Postal Service in business, often sending cards requiring extra postage, packed with old pictures, funny newspaper clippings, or things she thought they’d find interesting.  And she’d often send her daughters random obituaries of people she had never met with notes scribbled along the margins, “what a FABULOUS obituary! …What a cool guy!!!  LOVE this!!  Doesn’t she sound fun? … I feel like we’d want to be friends with her…”  Judy ALWAYS read the obituaries.  Her girls thank you for reading hers.  And they really hope that if Judy could read it, she would call it fabulous.  Because she sure was.  And you would definitely want to be friends with her.

In addition to her parents, Judy is preceded in death by infant son, Phillip John Seroska Jr;  ex-husband and father of her children, Dr. Phillip John Seroska; step-father, Rowland H. Lesser; beloved Great Aunt Hazel Blum; and cousins, David Will, Jill Will, and Tammy Will.

Judy is survived by her daughters and biggest fans, Amy Seroska and Emily Seroska, her son in law Matthew Howley, beloved cat Griswold, and grand-cat Walter; cousins, Susan Will McNiff and family, Heidi Will DeCoster and family, and Jane Griswold; and step sister, Ann Funk.

A visitation will be held on Monday, March 17, from 5-8 PM, at Kniffen O’Malley Leffler Funeral & Cremation Services, 465 S. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. A final visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 18, from 9-10 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 316 S. Mountain Blvd, Mountain Top, followed by a 10 AM service officiated by dear family friend and Pastor Michele Kaufman. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, Judy would be so touched by a donation to Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood
Web: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/6iOI0_HnUUmPu_6_SRgayg2?sourceid=1017126&